Question For FJ&G

[FJ and G]

Dear Mr. Vergun,

Thank you for your email message expressing your interest in learning if M.T.H. recommends RealTrax for outdoor layouts.  We certainly appreciate your interest in our track systems and look forward to your continued support of M.T.H. Electric Trains.

While the rails used in RealTrax are constructed from nickel silver (some 30" straight sections were produced in the late 1990s with stainless steel), the track roadbed is produced with ABS plastic which cannot stand up to direct sunlight in hotter climates without warping and distorting.  Although the nickel silver rails won't rust, the damage to the roadbed and track ties could cause more severe problems leaving M.T.H. with no choice but to not recommend RealTrax for outdoor layouts.

Sincerely,

M.T.H. Customer Service

[choochin3]

Thanks for the update David.

Keep us posted for a response from MTH.

 

Thanks,

Carl T.

[FJ and G]

FYI, I just emailed MTH with some questions and will report back to your their respons(es) or non-response.

 

The following was emailed:

 

Dear Sir,

Some hobbyists have been using MTH RealTrax for outdoor operations. Those who have report success. I have personally found that the tracks hold up well outdoors after leaving them outside for 2 years.

However, one person reported a rusty center rail, which I didn't experience.

Two questions:

1. What are Realtrax rails made out of? (I'm guessing nickel-silver)

2. Were some batches of center rail made out of a different alloy that may have resulted in rust?

Thanks

Dave Vergun

[FJ and G]

carl,

 

It's funny you ask as I just brought it in after 2 years outside a couple weeks ago, in order to separate the rails and make an RTV mold (which I finished doing).

 

Since I saw this post, I ran a multimeter test on the rails and after no cleaning them and leaving them outside for 2 years, they were as good as when I first brought them outside in full south facing sunlight

 

interestingly, the roadbed held up extremely well too, but I can tell that it was very slightly brittle when I busted the trackbed up (unfortunately threw the trackbed away along with the brass contacts, but you could always use conductivity paste that large scale modelers use; I'm thinking sold by LGB and made for outside). At worst you could solder which isn't as hard as it may seem at first.

 

anyway, I would expect the road bed to last 50 years and maybe 100 if you spray it with either lacquer to matte clear made for exterior

I would not hesitate to use track power outdoors. At the worst, you could run a track cleaning car in front of the locomotive at the beginning of the session

 

real plus is that you aren't limited by the confines of a room and a nasty wife

 

btw, does anyone know what the MTH rails are made of in RealTrax? I'm guessing nickle silver. I've had a bad time with nickel silver in code 148 rails (Right O way) for outdoors so I'm esp. curious now about this, if someone could clue me in

 

another warning is that someone said they did the same experiment as me and the center rail rusted. I had no rust at all so I don't know what the deal was or if MTH made a batch of rails using a different mineral; has got to be a big mystery 

[choochin3]

Mr.Vergun,

How has your experiment with leaving MTH track outside going?

Has it tarnished,how about the copper contacts,are they in good shape?

I'm thinking about permanenly putting my track outside on my deck,and wanted to know how this track will do exposed to the elements.

 

Thanks,

Carl T.